Already - Christmas Controversy

It is hard to believe that it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas - everywhere you go! Have you heard about the recent announcement of this year's Christmas Controversy?

Eric Gorskiap - Religion Writer for the AP writes: You better watch out. There is a new combatant in the Christmas wars.

Ads proclaiming, "Why believe in a god? Just be good for goodness' sake," will appear on Washington, D.C., buses starting next week and running through December. The American Humanist Association unveiled the provocative $40,000 holiday ad campaign Tuesday.

In lifting lyrics from "Santa Claus is Coming to Town," the Washington-based group is wading into what has become a perennial debate over commercialism, religion in the public square and the meaning of Christmas.

"We are trying to reach our audience, and sometimes in order to reach an audience, everybody has to hear you," said Fred Edwords, spokesman for the humanist group. "Our reason for doing it during the holidays is there are an awful lot of agnostics, atheists and other types of non-theists who feel a little alone during the holidays because of its association with traditional religion."

To that end, the ads and posters will include a link to a Web site that will seek to connect and organize like-minded thinkers in the D.C. area, Edwords said.

Edwords said the purpose isn't to argue that God doesn't exist or change minds about a deity, although "we are trying to plant a seed of rational thought and critical thinking and questioning in people's minds." To read more.... SOURCE

I'm not sure what to do with such a campaign. Obviously, the philosophical bent behind the ad campaign is 180 degrees from truth. Since their campaign is built on the concept of "there is no god," I have to ask the following:

1. What is goodness? Who defines it?

2. Where did the concept of goodness come from?


3. Do the person or persons who define "goodness" then become "god" by virtue of the fact that they are setting the standard?

4. If there is no god...who determines any standard? And...if it's humanity...then which standard of the multiple individuals defining "goodness" do we choose?

5. And...regardless of how goodness is defined...why should anyone be good?

Certainly we have to ask...why be good for goodness' sake? That seems to make no sense with or without a defined standard of good. If there is no god...there is no "higher" authority other than the opinions of people.

6. Why on earth would anyone want to live an ethical life outside of God?

What would an ethical life look like outside of God?

7. If we are told that we need to lead a good life...to do what is right...who defines "right?"

I can't help but ask...how can this campaign or the line of reasoning taken by the American Humanist Association be considered "rational" or "progressive?"

Anytime our opinion seeks to trump God's directives...we lose. We lose sight of life; we lose a grasp on reality; we lose perspective on the essence of character. This group claims that they feel alone during Christmas because of its association with traditional religion. I genuinely grieve that they feel alone. But it's not because of Christmas, a time when the birthday of the Incarnate God is celebrated. They feel alone because they have distanced themselves from the very One who brings peace, hope and the presence of God.


How about you? What do you think of this campaign? Where do you line up? Don't let Christmas be a time when you distance yourself from the very One who came to be near you...to indwell you...to fill you...to give you peace. Jesus...the light of the world has come. Thanks to my friend Tom Kinnan for his insights